Haiti-World founder Ruth Paul-Caudle was a teenager when she left Haiti to pursue an education in the United States. Her father, a minister, was dedicated to helping others and helped build an orphanage in the Kenscoff mountains in Haiti. After her father’s death, Ruth made it her mission to follow in his footsteps and help Haitian children.

Her first endeavor involved building a school for children who had no other choice but to walk two hours to and from school. There were also children who did not attend school at all because their families could not afford it. To build the school, Ruth and her husband, Brian, hosted a gospel concert at a church in Lake Villa. The concert raised more than $20,000. The Spirit of Truth School opened in 2003 with room for 40 students. The school has grown over the years and now enrolls nearly 300 children who attend for free.

Ruth also wrote a children’s book, “Yvette, Annette and Renette”, that was released in late 2007. All proceeds from the book go toward the Spirit of Truth School.

Ruth’s latest pursuit involves improving the orphanage her father helped build. The orphanage is overcrowded, with over 40 children living in two rooms. The children in the orphanage are living in very unsanitary conditions, an environment where disease and sickness easily spread. Ruth strives to raise enough money to not only put an addition on the orphanage, but bring the orphanage indoor plumbing and clean drinking water.

The Spirit of Truth School in Guibert, Haiti